Buzz
As spring approaches, families, friends, or colleagues often organize spring trips to spiritual tourist destinations to explore and pray for a favorable and successful year. Vntrip shares with you some of the sacred, beautiful, and famous places in the South.
Mount Ba Den Scenic Area (Tay Ninh)
Mount Ba Den is located in Ninh Trung hamlet, Ninh Son commune, Tay Ninh town, Tay Ninh province. The temple follows the Northern sect. With an elevation of 986m above sea level, Ba Den is the highest mountain in the Southern region. It is this height that attracts many adventurers to conquer Ba Den.
The scenic area of Mount Ba Den boasts several renowned and spiritually significant pagodas, such as Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda, Upper Pagoda, Goddess Pagoda, Cave Pagoda (Linh Son Long Chau Pagoda), and Central Pagoda (Linh Son Phuoc Trung Pagoda).
Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda, initiated in 1996, covers an area of 210m2 (14m wide, 15m long). The pagoda showcases a harmonious blend of architectural beauty inspired by various ancient temples in the country. Despite the ups and downs over the years, the pagoda still preserves two green stone pillars sculpted during the Tổ Tâm Hòa era (1919) at the front gate. Each pillar is 4.5m tall, with a diameter of 0.45m, adorned with beautifully crafted intertwining dragon motifs.
Adjacent to the pagoda is the Bà Linh Son Palace. Annually, pilgrims flock to visit the pagoda and the Bà Temple, especially during the first lunar month and the Bà festival on the 5th and 6th days of the lunar year. During this period, this spiritual tourism site attracts a multitude of tourists for worship and exploration.
To facilitate pilgrims, a road spanning 11km from Tây Ninh town to Mount Ba Den has been constructed. Notably, Vietnam's first cable car system, operational since 1998 by the Tây Ninh Tourism Company, transports visitors from the mountain's base to Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda in just 18 minutes per trip. The cable car system comprises 180 cabins (2 adults/cabin) and has a capacity to serve 500 passengers per hour.
Supreme Citadel (Tây Ninh)
The Supreme Citadel is situated in Long Thành Bắc commune, Hòa Thành district, Tây Ninh province, just 4km away from Tây Ninh city and approximately 100km from Ho Chi Minh City.
This majestic citadel stands as a remarkable complex of architecture, art, and religion, renowned in the Cao Đài faith and serving as the central seat of the Cao Đài Tây Ninh Church.
Nestled within a spacious area of about 40km², the entire Supreme Citadel of Cao Đài Tây Ninh encompasses nearly 100 distinct architectural structures, all constructed with reinforced concrete and bamboo core. The citadel boasts 12 gates, each intricately adorned with carvings depicting the Four Immortals (Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, Phoenix) and the lotus flower.
The main gate stands as the grand entrance adorned with a unique decoration featuring a dual dragon motif, pearl chrysanthemums, and three artistic styles: Xuân Thu scripture, Bát vu vase, and Phất trần painting. This architectural masterpiece reflects the essence of the three teachings (Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism). Notably, the main gate proudly displays the inscription 'GREAT WAY OF THREE REALMS SPREADING COMPASSION' in both Vietnamese and Chinese characters.
The main ceremony of the day at the cathedral takes place at noon. Visitors are welcome to explore the cathedral at any time, with a reminder to remove shoes, maintain general hygiene, and enter through designated doors: men on the right and women on the left.
Christ the King Statue (Vũng Tàu)
The Christ the King statue is situated atop Small Mountain in the city of Vũng Tàu. This monument carries a strong cultural and religious significance. Standing at 32 meters tall, with an impressive wingspan of 18.4 meters, it is regarded by experts as the tallest statue of Christ in the world.
